Signs promoting Lincoln Brewster began dotting the roadways of Gastonia this week. No, he’s not a candidate for political office – he’s contemporary Christian musician and pastor and members of Bethlehem Church put up the signs to promote his concert tonight.

You could say that the love of two women shaped Brewster into the man of faith he is today.

He could barely walk when his mother, a musician, noticed he could keep rhythm on the drum set his grandfather had given him. By age 5 he could play the mandolin. The two would often perform for cruise ship tourists who stopped by their tiny hometown of Homer, Alaska. At age 12 when he formed his first band, his mom played bass and sang vocals.

“My mom loved music and played with local bands,” said Brewster. “She was the one who inspired my love for singing and playing instruments.”

The other woman who changed his life was his high school sweetheart, Laura, who he met when his family moved to Modesto, California. When Laura invited him to come to a drama ministry performance, he experienced something he’d never felt before – the call of God.

“I was afraid to lay down a lot of things in my life,” said Brewster, whose childhood had been darkened by an alcoholic stepfather prone to violent rages. “I asked the Lord to come into my life, all by myself. It was the best night of sleep that I’ve ever had.”

It is that faith that kept his career on track.

And he’s had plenty of temptations. Still a teen, he got offered a major recording contract. He was discovered by Journey frontman Steve Perry but after just six months on the road, he moved back to Modesto to be with his wife.

Since then he has centered his life around his music ministry and his family. He’s put out six albums with the worship label Integrity Music. He’s had hits with “All I Really Want,” “All to You” “Everlasting God” and “The Power of Your Name.”

He and wife Laura have been married for 16 years and being a good father and husband is his top priority.

“My family is the biggest deal for me,” said Brewster. “I didn’t have strong male role models in my life as a kid. But God’s given me the courage to not let my past control my future. He’s given me the chance to be the father I never had and the husband I never saw modeled.”